Early CivilizationsChapter 2

Quiz 1. What did the

Greeks call the fertile region between the Tigris and Euphrates?

A. Egypt B. Sumer C. Mesopotamia D. Mediterranean

2. What is the name of Sumerian wedge-shaped form of writing?

A. Cuneiform B. Alphabet C. Hieroglyphics D. Hammurabi

Quiz Answers 1. C. Mesopotamia 2. A. Cuneiform

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia – 1st known civilization Located in the “fertile crescent”

between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.

(See Map on Page 31) Mesopotamia means “land between

the rivers.”

Sumer 3000 BC Sumerian civilization develops

in Mesopotamia. Composed of about a dozen

independent city-states fighting for control of each other

Sumer Developed the cuneiform writing

system and the Base 60 numerical system.

Major occupation – farming, elaborate irrigation system

Dwelled in fortified cities, structures of baked clay bricks, pyramid-like structures called ziggurats.

Remains of Ancient Ziggurat

Reconstructed model of Ancient Ziggurat

Neolithic Revolution A transformation in the way people

lived around 10,000 BC. The changed from primarily hunting and gathering to systematic farming.

Sumer Sargon came to dominance around 2350

BC in the city-state of Kish, established first known empire: the Akkadian empire from Persian Gulf to northern Mesopotamia.

City of Ur later came to prominence and was the leading city of Sumer. Perhaps the city where Abraham was from, perhaps not.

God revealed himself to Abraham in 2100 BC.

Major contributions of the Sumerian Civilization:

Cuneiform Roman arch Wheel Division of a circle into 360

degrees Division of hours and minutes into

60 units

Amorite Civilization Amorites invaded Sumer and helped its

decline. Established the “Old Babylonian

Empire,” one of the greatest cities of the ancient world.

The capital city of Babylon was established near the location of the Tower of Babel. (Some of the people stayed and did not scatter.)

Amorite Civilization Hammurabi rose to

power and united the land of Mesopotamia under his rule (1795-1750BC).

Code of Hammurabi - a set of laws which became the standard of judgment throughout the Amorite Empire.

Examine the inset to compare the law of God as given to Moses with the Code of Hammurabi. Page 32.

Amorite Civilization Epic of Gilgamesh

and the Flood Other flood

accounts

The Flood in America?

"...the calamity which their traditions say once befell them, destroying the whole human race, excepting one man, who landed from his canoe on a high mountain in the West. This tradition, however, was not peculiar to the Mandan tribe, for amongst one hundred and twenty different tribes that I have visited in North and South and Central America, not a tribe exists that has not related to me distinct or vague traditions of such a calamity, in which one, or three, or eight persons were saved above the waters..."

Painter and traveler, George Catlin, 1830's

Amorite Accomplishments:

Hammurabi’s Code of Laws Epic of Gilgamesh – epic poem Trade in gold, silver, tin, and

textiles Algebra & Geometry Astronomy – study of heavenly

bodies, but fell into astrology – interpreting human events by the position of the planets & stars. Remained alienated from God.

Civilizations build upon other civilizations.

Amorite

Akkadia

Sumer

Egypt

Quiz1. What is the main river that runs

through Egypt? 2, 3, 4. What are the 3 main periods of

Egyptian History? 5. What important discovery enabled

Jean Champollion to read Egyptian hieroglyphics?

Answers1. What is the main river that runs

through Egypt? Nile2, 3, 4. 3 main periods of Egyptian

History:Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom, New

Kingdom 5. What important discovery enabled

Jean Champollion to read Egyptian hieroglyphics? Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone at

The British

Museum, London

Ancient EgyptWhat do you notice about Egypt?

Egypt Located along Nile River (750 miles long, in some

places less than 12 miles wide) Which way does the river flow? Find Upper Egypt? Why is it called that? Find Lower Egypt? Why is it called that? What is a delta? Why is it called that? Very dry climate. No river = No Egypt. “gift of

the river.” Floods June – August (snow melt), deposits rich,

fertile soil along the river. The river provided easy transportation and

communication so the country was easily unified.

Egyptian Origins Egyptians were descendants of

Misraim, son of Ham, son of Noah. (See map p. 25)

3000 B.C. Menes united the upper and lower regions of Egypt.

2700-2200 B.C. - Old Kingdom – The Age of the Pharoahs

Pharoahs were powerful, considered Gods

Great pyramids constructedKhufu or Cheops, most famous pharaoh

who built the Great Pyramid at Giza. Read the inset page 35.

2100-1641 B.C. – Middle Kingdom – The Age of the People

› Age of peace and construction› Preservation of power through projects

that benefitted more people› Irrigation canals, ponds to store the Nile’s

waters for use in the dry season› The Israelites moved to Egypt during this

period. (Genesis 47:1-6) Stayed from 1876-1446 (430 years). How did the Israelites get to Egypt?

How did the Israelites get to Egypt?› Joseph sold into slavery in Egypt. › Potiphar › Prison› Dreams› Pharoah’s household› Famine

Intermediate Period • Hyksos Intermediate Period – a people from

Asia invaded and ruled. • Art of War, horses, chariots, bronze weapons,

perhaps began enslavement of the Hebrew people.

• Could explain a pharaoh who “knew not Joseph.”

1570-1075 B.C. New Kingdom – Age of the Empire

› Warrior Kings invaders who extended their empire to Palestine, Syria, and lands of the Nile to the south.

› Hatshepsut – first great woman ruler of Egypt. › Thutmose III – conquered Palestine and Syria all the way to

the Euphrates. Called “Napoleon of Egypt” because he was an empire builder.

› Moses lived in Egypt during this period. (Thutmose III – possibly pharaoh whom Moses fled after killing the Egyptian)

› Amenhotep II – possibly the pharaoh who was challenged by Moses to let God’s people go.

› Rameses II (150 years after Israelites left Egypt) came to power. Built mammoth temples & monuments. Egypt went into gradual decline after his death.

› 1350 BC ish – Tutankhamen (King Tut) Read inset p. 37

Egyptian CultureSocial Structure – like a pyramid.

Pharoah

Priests/Nobles

Merchants

Common People

Foreign Slaves

Egyptian contributions:

Advances in Medicine Solar Calendar

Hiero-glyphics Papyrus

Land of Canaan

See Map of Canaan p. 40

Hittites Descendants of Heth, son of Canaan,

son of Ham. 2000 B.C. Hittites settle Asia Minor Warriors, expanded empire into Syria,

Babylon, Mesopotamia, Canaan Fights with Egypt led to both their

declines.

Phoenicians:

› Tyre, a port city, was the leading city› Great merchants, great fleet› Traveled far

Phoenicians› Two natural resources: purple dye from a

mollusk and cedar and fir trees› Founded the city of Carthage in North

Africa› Developed the Phoenician alphabet,

symbols/letters represent sounds instead of pictures.

Phoenicians› Pride and Ba’al worship of Phoenicians

helped to corrupt the Hebrews in Israel, God said He would judge them (Ez 26:3-5) Read this on page 42.

› City was attacked by Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, then completely destroyed by Alexander the Great.

Arameans: Descendants of Aram, son of Shem, also called Syrians. 1000 B.C. established a number of small independent states. Famous land trade as the “crossroads of civilization.” Damascus – one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in

the world. Look at it on the map. Centrally located on land routes of Near East.

Aramaic became the language of commerce in the area as it was common to many. Probably Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic.

God used the Arameans to punish his people (2 Kings 13:3), but later destroyed the Aramean civilization (Amos 1:3-5) because of the wickedness of the people of Damascus.

732 B.C. Assyrians crush Damascus and take the people as captives.

Hebrews

Hebrew Origins

God called Abraham to

Canaan.Established covenant

Promised descendants

Promised the land of

Canaan

2166 BC – Abraham born

2091 BC – God calls Abraham to Canaan.

HebrewsAbraham

Isaac

Jacob

From Jacob comes…

The 12 tribes of Israel

Hebrews Joseph to Egypt, then others 1446 B.C. Israelites leave Egypt under

Moses God covenants with Moses at Mount

Sinai (Ex 19-20) Establishes Israel as a theocracy, ruled

by God. Gave his law. Perfect moral standard so men can distinguish right from wrong.

Hebrews The Israelites enter the promised land,

after 40 years wandering in the desert because of their unbelief.

Joshua is their new leader. They conquer Jericho and other

peoples. Land is divided among the 12 tribes.

Hebrews Judges Hebrews were to demonstrate to the world

that there is only one God, but they fell into the polytheism of the cultures around them.

Enemies to attack them, turning them back to God.

Under the judge Samuel, the people again sinned and demanded an earthly king, so God gave them Saul. I Samuel 8:4-8

Hebrews David became king. Jerusalem - the city of David, center of

government. David conquered Israel’s enemies and

established peace. Solomon also ruled with wisdom and built the

magnificent temple to God. However, Solomon began to allow the worship

of false Gods and the nation was divided into Northern Kingdom (10 tribes) and Judah (tribes of Judah and Benjamin).

Hebrews The division led to internal strife and

wickedness. God sent judgment on the Israelites:› 722 B.C. Assyrians destroy Samaria in the

Northern Kingdom› 586 B.C. Jerusalem is destroyed, and the

people are carried to be captives in Babylon for 70 years.

The Near East

Persian

Chaldean/Babylonian

Assyrian

Hebrew

Canaanite

Egyptian

Amorite

Akkadian

Sumer

Assyrian Empire

Mesopotam

iaM

ilitary Might

Biggest Empire yet 900s B.C. Major city - Nineveh

Iron weapons Siege towers Battering rams War chariots Mass deportation of captives

Assyrian Empire 722 B.C. Assyrians under Sargon II

captured the 10 northern tribes of Israel.

They also invaded Egypt. Sennacherib (2 Kings 18) attacked

Jerusalem, but God sent an angel to kill 185,000 of Sennacherib’s army.

612 B.C. Chaldean & Median armies destroyed Nineveh and the Assyrian Empire.

Compare Assyrian Annals with the Bible. (See handout.)

Persian

Chaldean/

Babylonian

Assyrian

Hebrew

Canaanite

Egyptian

Amorite

Akkadian

Sumer

Chaldean Empire 612 B.C. Chaldeans

come to prominence with the defeat of Nineveh.

Under Nebuchadnezzar, the “New Babylonian Empire” reached its height (605-562 BC)

Jeremiah 17: 5-7“I [the Lord God] have made the earth,

the man and the east that are upon the ground, by my great power and by my outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto me. And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant…And all nations shall serve him.”

605 BC Nebuchadnezzar defeats Egypt.

586 BC Jerusalem is destroyed, and the Hebrew Diaspora results.

Hanging gardens of Babylon

Chaldean Contributions Destruction of Jerusalem Hanging gardens Advances in astronomy Instrument of God’s judgment Object of God’s wrath (Fall of Babylon

539 BC) Conquered by the Medes & the

Persians

Persian

Chaldean/Babylonian

Assyrian

Hebrew

Canaanite

Egyptian

Amorite

Akkadian

Sumer

Persian Empire

Cyrus the GreatDarius the M

ede

Conquerer – Mesopotamia, Asia Minor Borrowed “coinage” Relatively merciful conqueror The “Lord’s annointed” Freed Israelites from captivity Directed Israel to rebuild the temple

A governor or satrap Assisted Cyrus

Cyrus the Great

Persian Contributions Coinage Freed the Israelites Zoroastrianism (monotheistic) and the

Avesta (sacred writings) Postal system The Magi

Persian

Chaldean/Babylonian

Assyrian

Hebrew

Canaanite

Egyptian

Amorite

Akkadian

Sumer